Improvement in smoothing and fluting irons and holders



2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

l. HEWITT.

Smoothing and Fluting Irons and Holders; No. 135,335, Paten ted.an.28,1873.

Fig. (Y. l9.

am I v J47? Hemzt AM. PHOTO-LITHOBRAPIIIC c0. u.(osaonns3- macsss) 'Fig.5 is a top view of the lower plate.

JOHN HEWITT, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SMOOTHING AND FLUTING IRONS AND HOLDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent bio-135,335, dated January28, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HEWITT, of the city and county of Albany andState of New York, have invented an Improved Sad-Iron Fluter and Holder,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawing and the letters ofreference marked thereon making part of this specification, in which-Figure 1 is a side view of the sad-iron resting on the independentplate. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a top view ofthe sad-iron. Fig. 4 is a rear view. Fig.6 is a bottom view of thehandleplate. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lower plate,showing another style of fastening. Figs. 8 and 9 are top views of theindependent plate. Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate the handle-plate in theprocess of dating.

My improvement consists in furnishing as anew article of manufacture asad-iron and holder, which, combined, not only furnish anv admirablesmoothing-iron, but a most perfect and effective tinting-machine; andwhich con1- bination can be furnished to the trade at a trifling cost inaddition to the price of the ordinary smoothing-iron. My improvementconsists in constructing the sad-iron in two sections, which are soconnected by any suitable attachment as to permit of their beingdetached at pleasure. The lower face of the handle-plate is corrugated,and which, in connection with a corrugated-faced iron-holder, furnishesthe flutin g device; and which arrangement permits of the ironing of theruffle, and by a movement precisely similar to that employed with theordinary smoothing-iron. My improvement also consists in so elongatingthe center ribs on the face of the handle-plate that they shall extendthroughout its entire length. This permits of the toe of said. platebeing used, in connection with the corrugated face of the iron-holder,to form a single ruffle, and which is frequently most desirable,especially when in ironing a corner or other like point is to be turned.1

The construction and operation of my invention are as follows:

The sad-iron is of the ordinary form, and is constructed of any suitablematerial and in two distinct and independentsections-the sadiron plate Aand handle-plate B. These are connected by any suitable attachment, 0,so as to form a complete sad-iron, care being taken that the attachmentis such as to allow of the detachment of the handle-plate, so as topermit, when the sad-iron plate cools, of the ready disconnecting thehandle-plate and the securing of the same on another of the series ofsad-iron plates which I contemplate using in connection with a singlehandle-plate, B, and which secures, simply with the cost of the sad-ironplate itself, all the advantages of two, three, or more finished andcomplete smoothing-irons. Another equally important reason why theplates A B should not be permanentlyattached, but on the contrary soconnected as to permit of the ready detachment of the plate B, is that,when I desire to flute, the plate B is to be used independent entirelyof the sad-iron plate A, and which, of course, renders any suchconnection as a hinge-joint or other such attachment whollyimpracticable and, besides, a hinged joint or other such attachment,which would require a tongue or lip to project from the under face ofthe handle-plate B, would defeat entirely the chief object my inventionis designed to accomplish, and which is to so utilize the corrugatedfaces b of the handle-plate with a corrugated face, (I, of aniron-holder, D, as to iron the fluting in contradistinction to pressing,as is the general practice. Of course any projection on the under faceof the plate B, for attachment or otherwise, would interrupt the forwardand backward movement always necessary in all ironing processes,

In the drawing I have shown two methods of attachment--one illustratedat 0, Figs. 1, 3, and 5, and the other at C, Fig. 7. The attachment inFigs. 1, 3, and 5 simply consists in providing by any suitable means theplate A with a clasp having clamping-jaws c 0, under which thehandle-plate B slides, and by which it is held in position and directcontact with the sad-iron plate A. The other attachment consists incasting in the sad-iron plate A a tongue, 0, which passes up through aslot cast in one of the grooves in the handle-plate B,

and which slot passes over the head of the tongue, and the plates arethen fastened by any suitable catch passing under the shoul ders c c ofthe tongue. This slot in the plate T QEFIQL B ofl'ers no obstruction tothe ironing process, as hereinbefore referred to. The lower face of thehandle-plate is corrugated throughout its entire width, from its heel towhere the tapering of the toe commences, the two center ribs of thecorrugations extending throughout its entire length, as clearly shown inFig. 6. This permits of the toe-plate being used in connection with thecorrugated holder D to form a single flute, and which is a greatdesideratum in devices of this character. The upper face of the sad-ironplate A is recessed at its center and corrugated at its ends simply topermit the plates to meet and to be properly secured together when thedevice is to be used as a sad-iron. Dis an iron-holder, andismanufactured out of any suitable material, and is corrugated on one ofits upper faces, as clearly shown at 6?, Figs. 1 and 9. Thesecorrugations d, as they are to be used in connection with the corrugatedface I) of the plate B, must be a counterpart thereof, so that when theplanes of the face of the iron-holder and plate are brought in contacttheir corrugated faces will mesh together, and which will permit of theribs of the one passing or traveling freely through the grooves of. theother and which allows the necessary draw movement for the ironingprocess.

This iron-holder 1) may be provided with feet or any other attachmentdesired, provided, always, that the corrugated face remains undisturbedand unobstructed by any feature that would interfere with the freepassage of the handle-plate over the same, as is necessary in ironingthe flutes.

Instead of a single series of corrugations on the iron-holder, there maybe a double set on the same plane, as shown in Fig. 9; or each face maybe corrugated and the toe of the iron plate made to correspond, asclearly shown in Fig. 8.

The great advantage of having an iron-holder or independent plate to usein connection with the handle-plate in fluting is that, not

bein g a permanent feature of the sad-iron during the process ofironing, it does not become unduly heated, so the instant you cease workwith the smoothing-iron the fluting mechanism is ready for work, nocooling-time for any feature of the same being required. When theplate-thatis, the base-plate, and which is the iron-holder in myarrangementis heated, there is always more or less danger of it burningthe material, as, the sta-rched fabric when moistened beingmore or lessgluey, it has the tendency when spread over the ribs to stick, andconsequently scorch or tear.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is- 1. The handle-plate B, corrugated so that its centerribs extend throughout its entire length to permit of the toe of saidplate being used to iron a single flute.

2. An iron consisting of the sad-iron plate A and corrugated-facedhandle-plate B, when said plates are so connected as to allow of theirready detachment to permit of the corru gated handle-plate being used inconnection with the corrugated face 61 of the iron-holder D for ironingfluting, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN HEWITT,

Witnesses:

EDWIN JAMES, JOHN BROWN.

